Unit21

BTEC National Travel and Tourism

Unit 21 Work-based experience within the travel

and tourism industry

(c) Travel and Tourism Publishing Ltd.

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Summary of learning outcomes

1. Investigate opportunities for a work-based experience in the travel and tourism industry;

2. Prepare to obtain a work-based experience;

3. Plan, complete and present an approved project;

4. Undertake a personal review of the work-based experience and your own performance.


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What can work-based experience do for me?

If approached in a logical and positive manner, your placement has thepotential to:

1. Help you get a better job when you finish studying;2. Develop skills that employers are looking for;3. Add something to your CV;4. Give you a chance to put academic theory into practice;5. Bridge the gap between college and the world of work;6. Make you stand out from the crowd;7. Get a reference from your placement employer;8. Build your confidence by working with others and perhaps dealing

with the public;9. Help test out career options;10.Learn more about yourself as a person.


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Sources of placement information and advice

• College/school database• Careers advisers• Resource centre• Tutors• Colleagues• Newspapers• Websites• HR departments


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Constraints • Location – urban or rural?• Personal issues – perhaps concerning mobility or health-related matters that may

affect where you can go for your placement;• Transport – having access to public transport or other means of getting to the

placement will need to be taken into account. This could be a particular problem in a rural area;

• Travelling time – this should be kept to a minimum unless you have chosen to travel further afield to work with a particular company;

• Hours of work – these need to agreed before the start of your placement, in line with the custom and practice at the workplace and subject to legal requirements. To make the work-based experience as realistic as possible it is normal for students on placement to work the same hours as permanent staff;

• Shifts – you may be asked to work shifts in certain placements, for example hotels, airports, large attractions, etc;

• Finance – most short placements are unpaid, but you shouldn’t be expected to have to pay for equipment or special clothing – this should be provided by the employer as necessary. Placement employers sometimes offer to cover students’ travel costs or your college/school may have a system to help with this expenditure.


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Opportunities for skills development

• Technical and practical – computer skills, putting up displays, etc;• Social and personal – communicating professionally with work colleagues,

etc;• Analytical and critical – you may be asked to comment on data, new

products, etc;• Problem-solving – this could be anything from finding information for a

customer to working out an itinerary for a business trip;• Self-motivation – your placement will let you see if you can be motivated in

the workplace; • Prioritising and action-planning – these are important work and life skills

that you can develop on your work-based experience;• Customer care and relating to people – these skills are important and

transferable to most sectors of the travel and tourism industry;• Time-keeping and presentation – although you are not a full-time

employee you must act in a professional manner at all times, including being punctual and wearing appropriate dress while on placement;

• Research skills – this could be finding out the prices charged by a competitor company, interviewing visitors, etc.


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Code of behaviourAll travel and tourism organisations have codes of behaviour that theyexpect all staff to follow, covering such matters as:

• Timekeeping and attendance;• Appropriate dress;• Honesty and reliability;• Accepting authority and responsibility;• Responding to instructions and carrying out tasks;• Following health, safety and security guidelines;• Appropriate language in the workplace;• Courteous and non-discriminatory behaviour;• Use of company facilities (particularly telephone, email and the

Internet);• Dealing with customers and suppliers.


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Planning a project

Topics that you could consider for your project include:

• Examining customer care provision in the placement organisation;

• Carrying out a review of their website and suggesting improvements;

• Developing a marketing plan for the organisation;• Drawing up a training scheme for new members of staff;• Producing a staff guide to teamwork, leadership and

motivation in the workplace;• Developing some new menu options;• Carrying out a review of current products and services,

with suggestions for improvements.


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Presentation of your project

• The objectives of the project;

• The methods you used to achieve the objectives;

• Timescales involved;

• Resources consulted;

• Outcomes of the project.


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Personal review

• Your own performance on placement

• Monitoring progress on placement

• Benefits to yourself– New skills and knowledge gained– Sector-specific experience– New contacts made– Possible new career pathways– Other progression opportunities

Unit21

Travel

Transcript of Unit21